What Would YOU Do?

My 5 daughters and I are spending today doing some VERY SERIOUS, LAST MINUTE debating whether we should move to our beloved Cape Cod, or be adventurous and opt for exciting (and MUCH WARMER) Myrtle Beach.

My daughtger and son-in-law just moved from Myrtle Beach to north of Jacksonville, Florida about a year ago. I had never been to Myrtle Beach until they lived there for almost 5 years. The beach is beautiful. And always nearby. Everything else is kind of kitschy in a touristy kind of way. I don’t have any need or desire to go back there, unless it is to stay at the Westgate Resorts time share/condo on the beach. My brother is CFO of the company and the place is gorgeous! But otherwise, yeah, it’s warm, even hot in the summer. Things can grow all year long, although they do get a freak snow storm every now and then, a mere dusting, as it were. The city tore down The Pavilion, a free place to walk around with rides, cotton candy and such that was right across the street from the Boardwalk. It was great and now it’s gone after 30+ years. A Hard Rock Cafe theme park came (and went) within 2 years. Every chain restaurant known in the United States must be there, and shopping galore. Unless you like, no make that LOVE to golf or are a motorcycle chick, therre’s nothing much in Myrtle Beach but Biker Weeks, shopping, eating and going to the beach. I think Myrtle Beach has the highest per capita rating of golf courses to residents in the US.I’m sure Cape Cod has beautiful beaches, but not very functional much of the year. And COLD a lot of the year. So, from that perspective, I guess you could do worse. And I have to admit, the beaches are beautiful, free, and lots of access to it. The beach runs for miles and miles and endless miles. I think hurricanes like Myrtle Beach, too, but not as much as nor’easters like Cape Cod. Quite a toss-up, eh? With 5 children, are you moving closer to or further away from family and friends? Me? I’d go with family and friends as a primary factor, unless moving is a business decision. Then again, southerners are just northerners who moved, right? And it’s all about the weather. Florida used to be the prime destination, until the real estate market crashed. Of course, as a native Floridian I am a little biased. Just be prepared for your girls to start saying “ya’ll” and things like that. And NIP IT IN THE BUD!! My daughter is very greatful to me now, as an adult herself, that I refused to let her “impersonate” a southern accent when we moved from Florida to North Carolina. Of course, there are cultural things to do in Myrtle Beach, and it’s only 2 hours down Highway 17 to Charleston. Now THERE’S a destination! Oh, and fishing and boating are always just a stone’s throw away, if that’s your cup of tea. But if you travel a lot, just remember Myrtle Beach is 2 hours from I-95.

Well, I hope I haven’t scared you away from Myrtle Beach, since I don’t really know your circumstances. But you could do worse than Myrtle Beach. Say, by moving to Columbia, SC or any other land-locked city, like Greenville NC where I live. Unless you’re in the mountains.Now, the mountains are MY kind of destination.But from Myrtle Beach and Greenville NC, they are a full day’s drive away.